Klay Thompson almost left the Golden State Warriors earlier than expected for a shocking reason revealed by former teammate Draymond Green. After the 2019 playoffs, Green said Thompson was highly likely to depart for a chance to be the number one option on another team before an injury altered his plans. This insight comes as the Warriors prepare for upcoming fixtures you can review on our schedule page.
What did Draymond Green say about Klay Thompson's potential departure?
Green stated on a podcast that after the 2019 playoffs, Klay Thompson was highly likely to leave Golden State to become a primary scorer elsewhere. He emphasized that Thompson getting injured was the only reason he stayed, calling it highly fucking likely that Thompson would have pursued a bigger role. Green argued that Thompson could have thrived as a number one option like Reggie Miller did with the Indiana Pacers, dismissing doubts about his ability to lead a team.
How did injury affect Klay Thompson's career with the Warriors?
The injury Thompson suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals not only doomed the Warriors' title chances that year but also changed his trajectory forever. Green confirmed the injury led Thompson to accept a rehab contract with Golden State, causing him to miss a full season. Despite returning as a role player and helping the Warriors win the 2022 NBA Championship, Thompson eventually left for the Dallas Mavericks seeking a larger role and more money once he was no longer an All-Star caliber starter.
What is Klay Thompson's legacy and current situation?
Thompson's legacy remains intact despite his departure from Golden State, as staying longer and winning another title with a less stacked roster avoided the negative mark seen when stars like Kyrie Irving left Cleveland for Boston. New role players such as Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole have praised Thompson for his leadership. Now with the Miami Heat, Thompson gets a final chance to contribute to a contending team, especially after Miami's trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and will look to hit three pointers and prove he can still help win games as the Warriors look ahead to their next matchup, with their last result being a 115-110 loss to the LA Clippers on 2026-04-13 and recent form showing 1W-0D-4L over the last five games.